An Emergency Services Officer (ESO) is typically in charge of ensuring a work site is in a state of emergency response operational readiness at all times. They make sure all staff, workers, guests, contractors and visitors on a work site are safe and secure; and in the event of an emergency, they are the first to react. Emergencies can be related to fires, mass casualty (underground and above ground) and even accidents which occur outside of the work site.

This is typically a multi-skilled role covering security, fire, rescue, medical response, training and work health and safety.

Typical job activities

This is a sample from the training package qualification for mines rescue called the Certificate III in Mine Emergency Response & Rescue.

• Communicate in the workplace
• Maintain and monitor site quality standards
• Identify detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident
• Render hazardous materials incidents safe
• Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures
• Conduct local risk control
• Prevent injury
• Apply risk management processes
• Control emergencies and critical situations
• Prepare equipment for emergency response
• Respond to mine incident
• Respond to local emergencies and incidents
• Operate in self-contained regenerative oxygen breathing apparatus
• Conduct fire team operations
• Conduct underground research
• Undertake confined space rescue
• Control underground fires in a confined space environment
• Provide first aid
• Provide advanced first aid
• Extricate causalities from an underground incident

Qualifications and skills employers look for:

• Health Care qualifications. This could be a HLT41115 – Certificate IV in Health Care or HLT51015 (superseded by HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care) – Diploma of Paramedical Science (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care)
• Cert II in Emergency Service
• Occupational First Aid 
• Confined Spaces Training
• TAE Cert IV Trainer Assessor Certification
• Work Safely at Heights
• Certificate III Mines Emergency Response & Rescue
• Alcohol and Other drugs testing certification 
• Security Officer experience
• Experience as a First Aid Responder
• Confident interpersonal and communication skills (written & verbal)

What industries does an Emergency Services Officer work in?

With skills in security, fire, rescue and medical, an Emergency Services Officer has the ability to assist with varying jobs at many different workplaces. That’s why this role is suitable to a range of industries including;

• maritime
• power and energy
• mining & metaliferous (above and underground)
• industrial
• offshore oil & gas
• defence
• aviation
• construction
• other resource sectors

APC graduate Ian Peacock tells us about his mining placement experience whilst working as an ESO. Ian has now graduated and is working in the Western Australian mining industry.

Changing Lives Podcast – Clinical experience in mining

APC graduate Ian Peacock tells us about his mining placement experience whilst working as an ESO. (He’s now working full-time in the Western Australian mining industry).
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Emergency Service Officer Job Examples

See real examples of jobs for mining Emergency Services Officers (ESO’s)

Here are two Emergency Services Officer job examples to give you an idea of what employers might look for.

[Sample Job on SEEK] Wilson Security – Security Officers and Emergency Service Officers
Wilson seek Security Officers and ESO’s who are suitably qualified, self-motivated and professional to meet their client’s requirement. As a Security Officer you must be able to walk for long periods, enjoy a variety of duties and have outstanding personal presentation and customer service skills. The primary functions of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Providing high quality frontline customer service and support;
• Risk identification and issue resolution;
• General security duties including administration tasks;
• Working within a team environment;
• The ability and confidence to work on your own.
• First Aid Responder experience

[Sample job on SEEK] MSS Strategic Medical and Rescue job ad

As a Paramedic Emergency Service Officer you are part of the site emergency response team and are first response to all mine site emergency incidents, while supporting site medical, training and HSE activities.

To be a successful candidate the following mandatory qualifications, certifications and competencies are required and you must be interested in undertaking additional training and certifications:

• Degree in Paramedical Science or Ambulance Service Diploma or equivalent
• 2+ years’ experience within a paramedic emergency response role or equivalent
• Paramedics Australasia Membership

The below qualifications or competencies are desirable and non-mandatory for making application, but successful applicants will be required to undertake some or all of the below:

• Current Coal Mine Workers Health Scheme Assessment (Coal Board Medical – Rescue)
• Provide up to date immunisations for Tetanus and Hepatitis A&B
• Current Physical Functional Capacity Evaluation
• Ability to attain National Police Clearance certification
• BMA Core Induction or Mining Generic Standard 11
• Drug & Alcohol Testing Certification
• Rehabilitation & Return to Work Coordinator Certification
• RII30709 Certificate III Mines Emergency Response & Rescue
• TAE Cert IV Trainer Assessor Certification

How to become an Emergency Services Officer

To get a job as an ESO you will need to display competence in all of the emergency services skills. Typically, knowledge in just one area will not be enough (unless you are applying for a role as a Paramedic Emergency Service Officer).

Need more information?

Choose from these qualifications – begin your Emergency Services Officer health care career

• HLT41115 – Certificate IV in Health Care or HLT51015 (replaced with the HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care)
• HLT51015- Diploma of Paramedical Science (replaced with the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care)